120 mm illumination ammunition

The 120 mm illumination ammunition page covers the illumination round class used to light target areas for 120 mm mortars and compatible gun-mortar systems. Forecast International identifies illumination as one of the ammunition types fired by the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance on the 2S23 Nona-SVK, so the catalog entry serves as a relationship-focused support page rather than a single national model.

120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, Munitions

Image source: 120mm mortar bomb illuminating, photographed at the Aalborg Forsvars- og Garnisonsmuseum.JPG

Profile

Origin: Multiple countries
Built by: Various manufacturers
Type: 120 mm illuminating ammunition
Service note: 20th century-present
Designed: 20th century
Produced: 20th century-present

illumination ammunition mortar artillery

Specifications

Caliber: 120 mm
Munition class: Illuminating mortar projectile
Illumination method: Representative modern rounds use a time fuze to open the body and deploy a parachute-retarded illumination kit
Compatible systems: 120 mm mortar systems and compatible rifled gun-mortars, including the 2A60 Nona ordnance on the 2S23 Nona-SVK
Typical role: Night battlefield illumination and target marking

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Used as battlefield illumination ammunition for 120 mm mortar and gun-mortar systems that accept illuminating rounds.

Firing Weapons

This 120 mm illumination projectile is one of the ammunition types documented for the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance on the 2S23 Nona-SVK.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

120 mm gun-mortar

Forecast International explicitly lists illumination among the ammunition types fired by the 2A60 Nona rifled ordnance on the 2S23 Nona-SVK.

Sources: SM-120 (2S23) Nona-SVK 120mm Self-Propelled Howitzer/Mortar

120 mm illumination ammunition Images

120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, Munitions - view 1 — Source: 120mm mortar bomb illuminating, photographed at the Aalborg Forsvars- og Garnisonsmuseum.JPG

120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Mortar night fire 140318-A-TW035-307.jpg

120 mm illumination ammunition, 120 mm illuminating ammunition, Munitions - view 3 — Source: Illumination rounds shot from mortar ignite the midnight sky 150607-A-YY327-038.jpg

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Sources

SM-120 (2S23) Nona-SVK 120mm Self-Propelled Howitzer/MortarPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports the 2A60 Nona ammunition family context, including illumination rounds, and the broader 120 mm gun-mortar relationship to the 2S23 Nona-SVK. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 120 mm Mortar Illuminating RoundPublisher: Nammo | Note: Supports manufacturer and specification context for a representative 120 mm illuminating mortar round, including illumination role, time-fuze operation, and parachute-retarded light deployment. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 120mm mortar bomb illuminating, photographed at the Aalborg Forsvars- og Garnisonsmuseum.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain attribution for the representative 120 mm illumination mortar image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Mortar night fire 140318-A-TW035-307.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain attribution for a 120 mm mortar night-fire image that shows illumination round employment. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 Illumination rounds shot from mortar ignite the midnight sky 150607-A-YY327-038.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain attribution for a mortar illumination image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23